4/7/09
VS. CHILDREN is out today!!! There is a pretty nice review HERE.
Here are some places where you can buy a copy:
Australia & New Zealand: INERTIA-MUSIC
Austria: SUBSTANCE
Germany: A-MUSIK
Japan: ARTUNION
Scandinavia: DOT
UK: BOOMKAT
USA & Canada: SECRETLY CANADIAN
Other places: TOMLAB
You can also buy a download from the places you would probably expect.
The European tour starts on Saturday!!! All of our dates our on the SHOWS page. I won't be able to update this website while I'm gone, but you can always check the PUSCHEN website for any changes.
For this tour, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone will be:
Owen Ashworth: vocals, electronics & organ
Gordon Ashworth: piano, baritone guitar & lap steel
Nick Tamburro: drums
Tyson Thurston: baritone guitar & piano
We are a pretty good band & we're really excited for this tour!
Gordon will also be supporting most shows with his solo project CONCERN. CONCERN have a great & brand new album of their own called TRUTH & DISTANCE (Digitalis Undustries/Iatrogenesis). You can buy everybody's new album on the merch table, along with some brand new t-shirts & other stuff. Come say hello!
See you soon!
1/22/09
Happy late ass new year everybody!
I wanted to tell you that the band called Papercuts have recorded a lovely cover of the Casiotone for the Painfully Alone song "Baby It's You." I am super flattered because I really, really like that band. Thank you Papercuts. You can download a free MP3 HERE.
In March I will be playing SXSW for the first time after ten years of stern avoidance. The showcases are still being confirmed, but keep an eye on the SHOWS page for updates. It might be rad?
Before any of that, though, I will be playing two shows in February: one in Chicago & one in New York. You can learn about them on that good old SHOWS page. Fingers crossed, I will be debuting some of the songs from VS. CHILDREN. AAAAHHHH!!!!
Speaking of which, I just heard that VS. CHILDREN will finally and officially be released during the first week of April. For those of you who have asked about it, here is Heidi Andersons's spectacular cover art:
...& here is the the tracklisting:
1. Casiotone for the Painfully Alone vs. Children
2. Tom Justice, The Choir Boy Robber, Apprehended at Ace Hardware in Libertyville, IL
3. Optimist vs. The Silent Alarm (When The Saints Go Marching In)
4. Natural Light
5. Traveling Salesman's Young Wife Home Alone on Christmas in Montpelier, VT
6. Man O' War
7. Northfield, MN
8. Killers
9. Harsh The Herald Angels Sing
10. You Were Alone
11. White Jetta
ADVANCE BASE BATTERY LIFE, the singles & rarities compilation, will be released on March 10, I believe. Here is THAT cover art:
...& here is THAT tracklisting:
1. Old Panda Days (w/ Nick Krgovich)
2. Lesley Gore on the T.A.M.I. Show (version)
3. White Corolla
4. White on White
5. Holly Hobby
6. Lonesome New Mexican Nights
7. The Only Way To Cry
8. It's A Crime
9. Missoula
10. Hot Boyz (w/ Dear Nora)
11. Born in the U.S.A. (w/ Concern)
12. Streets of Philadelphia (w/ Concern)
13. Graceland
14. Sunday St
15. Voice of the Hospital
There will be a big Europe/UK tour in April & May in support of both of these releases. In the spirit of duality, I will be performing both a solo electronic set & a full band set at all shows. Concern will support all dates, along with some other extra special guests along the way. Hopefully I'll have those dates for you soon, so keep an eye on that fabulous, fabulous SHOWS page.
Thanks to everyone who said hello & supported STAY THE SAME NEVER CHANGE at the Sundance Film Festival! What's up to my man Ben. I thought that Lil Wayne documentary was pretty good.
12/09/08
I forgot to tell you that I did a remix for Headlights' new remix CD, REMIXES, & it comes out TODAY. REMIXES also features remixes of Headlights songs by people like The Album Leaf, Son Lux, The Buddy System, Cale Parks, & T.J Lipple of Aloha. REMIXES!!! The thing that I did is for a song called "So Much For The Afternoon," & I sing on it. Actually, it kind of just sounds like I hijacked Headlights & made them be my backing band for a couple of minutes. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, & it's sort of the closest thing to a new Casiotone for the Painfully Alone song for the time being.
Anyway, you can buy a CD HERE, or, if you'd rather download it, it's also available from a lot of those places that want to sell you downloads.
12/06/08
1. STAY THE SAME NEVER CHANGE (the Laurel Nakadate movie that I did all of that music for & helped edit) will be playing at the Sundance Festival in January. I will be out there with Laurel & some of the other cast & crew to for some of the screenings. Robert Redford let's hang out.
2. Julia Pott's video for White Corolla (which will be on ADVANCE BASE BATTERY LIFE but is available now on a split 7" w/ The Donkeys) debuted on 120 Minutes on MTV2 in England on November 22. I have no idea if they will ever play it again, but there you go.
3. The new album has been delayed a bit, but I swear it's almost done, & the plan is to release it in the spring along with a singles & rarities compilation CD/LP. The new album will be called VS. CHILDREN & the compilation album will be called ADVANCE BASE BATTERY LIFE. They were originally supposed to be released months apart slash already, but weirdness has delayed just about everything that could possibly be delayed. I know these things take forever & I'm sorry. Thank you for your patience, people. There will be lots more touring once those things come out, but for the next few months, I'll be taking it easy & working on some new recordings, soup recipes, etc. Maybe I should put a recipes page on the website?
4. There are a bunch of new shirts and some tour posters for sale over in the SHOP.
1, 2, 3, 4. That's all the news I have right now, but I'll let you know the second anything else exciting happens.
Thank you to everyone who came to the fall shows. See you in the spring!
Owen
10/8/08
Hey folks,
So, it turns out there are a bunch of problems with the online Town Topic EP track listing. I'm praying it gets fixed soon, but for the time being, every time you download a copy or put a CD copy into your computer, the track listing will be screwy. Once again, this is how the correct track listing should read:
1. Ice Cream Truck
2. Town Topic (instrumental)
3. I Love Creedence (instrumental)
4. Lesley Gore on the TAMI Show (instrumental)
5. Twinkle Echo (reverse)
6. Nashville Parthenon (instrumental)
7. STSNC
8. Twinkle Echo (redux)
9. I Like Common
10. Possible Love Interest (ringtone)
11. Bad People (ringtone)
12. OMG (ringtone)
13. Probably Walkin Down The Street (ringtone)
14. Ice Cream Truck (instrumental)
15. Green Cotton Sweater (version)
In other exciting news, I'm about to leave on the first of three short Fall U.S. tours. The dates for the first two are up on the shows page now, and the dates for the third will be up later this month.
If you are coming to one of the upcoming shows & there is a particular Casiotone song you'd really like to hear, you can email me at casiotonetechsupport@gmail.com with the name of the song & the city where you're planning on seeing a show. This will give me a chance to practice the requested song couple of times first so I don't forget the words or anything. Please title your email with the name of the city followed by "request" (e.g. "Des Moines Request").
Maybe see you soon??
Owen
P.S. The first person in Des Moines who actually emails me a song request will get a free copy of the Town Topic EP at the show.
9/4/08
On September 23, Tomlab will release the CD and download edition of the Town Topic EP. This is what the CD looks like, if you forget to turn off the flash:
The download doesn't look like anything because it physically does not exist. It is nothing.
Here is the track listing:
1. Ice Cream Truck
2. Town Topic (instrumental)
3. I Love Creedence (instrumental)
4. Lesley Gore on the TAMI Show (instrumental)
5. Twinkle Echo (reverse)
6. Nashville Parthenon (instrumental)
7. STSNC
8. Twinkle Echo (redux)
9. I Like Common
10. Possible Love Interest (ringtone)
11. Bad People (ringtone)
12. OMG (ringtone)
13. Probably Walkin Down The Street (ringtone)
14. Ice Cream Truck (instrumental)
15. Green Cotton Sweater (version)
Here is the promo text, just in case you are incredibly curious about this release:
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone
TOWN TOPIC EP
The TOWN TOPIC EP is the soundtrack to video artist and photographer Laurel Nakadate's debut feature film, STAY THE SAME NEVER CHANGE. Laurel commissioned CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE's Owen Ashworth to provide all of the music for STAY THE SAME NEVER CHANGE, right down to the character's ring tones. Laurel's original intention was to use previously released CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE songs for the film's soundtrack, but Owen opted instead to re-construct the pre-existing material and blend it with a number of new pieces to create a cohesive score specifically for the project. Built from the sounds of electric pianos, organs, Casio keyboards, a primitive monophonic sequencer/drum machine, and a shit ton of spring reverb, the music on the TOWN TOPIC EP parallels the stories of trouble-making Kansas City teenagers as they detonate explosives, eat at diners, watch fireworks, get kidnapped, and make a couple of phone calls over one sweltering Midwestern summer.
The TOWN TOPIC EP consists of thirteen short instrumental pieces, book-ended by the two vocal tracks that were recorded specifically for the film: "Ice Cream Truck," which, over a simulated July soundscape of Mr. Softee jingles, cicadas and trunk-rattling bass from passing cars, tells the story of criminal-minded kids who go joy-riding in a stolen ice cream truck and make other poorly-informed decisions along the way, and "Green Cotton Sweater (version)," which trumps the song's 2001 appearance on the POCKET SYMPHONIES FOR LONESOME SUBWAY CARS LP with blown-out drum machine rhythms, clattering pianos, and loads of vintage amp abuse. Other stand-out tracks include "Town Topic (instrumental)," a jukebox-ready country shuffle that could easily be mistaken for the backing track of a long-lost Patsy Cline hit, and "Nashville Parthenon (instrumental)," which re-imagines the original electro arrangement as a lovely and minimal electric piano lullaby.
The TOWN TOPIC EP collects tracks from two limited, vinyl-only EPs (the TOWN TOPIC 7", released by OIB Records in Brighton, England, and STSNC INSTRUMENTALS 7", released by People In A Position To Know Recordings, Inc. in Olympia, WA), plus one bonus track, the previously unreleased "Lesley Gore on the TAMI Show (instrumental)." The cover photograph, which features two of the actors from STAY THE SAME NEVER CHANGE, was taken by Laurel Nakadate.
END OF PROMO TEXT
Seriously who writes this stuff?
Like I said before, I will be going to Europe for a tour to celebrate the release of this thing. Because I am a genius, the CD won't actually be released until the very last day of the tour. Incredible planning, bonehead.
There will be a bunch of Midwest, East Coast, and mildly-Southern U.S. tour dates following in October & November. Those dates will be announced on the SHOWS page as soon as the information is available.
Are you guys excited about fall or what????
Owen
7/31/08
What's up, fellas? Tomorrow I am going to Grand Rapids to play a make-up show for the bummer cancellation back in April. I'm really happy to be sharing this show with The Spectacles, who are good friends from Chicago, and Paleo, whom I have never met but whose music I have enjoyed listening to in my home. The show is also going to be a fundraiser for a new soundsystem for the DAAC. The DAAC has faced some legal troubles in the recent past, and its staff of purehearted volunteers have worked really hard to get the DAAC up to code and totally leigitimate, and that hasn't left much time, energy, or money for things like new mics, cables, and other equipment necessary to put on really great all ages shows. So, to support the cause, none of the bands are taking any money for this show. Come help out the DAAC!
I am also really excited to announce my September European tour. I'm going to a bunch of places I've never been before, including Russia, Finland, and Norway. I'm doing this tour totally solo, which means lots of trains, planes, and gawking at strangers who speak different languages than me. What should I see? What should I eat? What should I avoid touching? If anyone has any Russia or Scaninavian travel advice, I could sure use the help. My email address is casiotonetechsupport@gmail.com.
The September tour will mark the release of the CD edition of the Town Topic EP, which will collect newly mastered tracks from my two most recent 7" releases: The Town Topic EP on OIB Records, and the STSNC INSTRUMENTALS EP on PIAPTK Records. As of now, both 7"s are still available from their respective labels as well as THIS WEBSITE. Tomlab will just be handling the CD version. I think the official release date is September 23. There will also be digital downloads available from wherever you've been getting your CFTPA digital downloads already. Here's the poster for the new release, which will also be serving as my tour poster for all fall dates:
The photo is a still from the Laurel Nakadate film, STAY THE SAME NEVER CHANGE, for which all of the music on the Town Topic EP was recorded. I think Laurel will be releasing a fancy DVD edition pretty soon.
In October and November, I will be playing a whole mess of Midwest and East Coast US tour dates in support of the Town Topic EP. A new album will follow in early 2009, and I'll be touring like a crazy person after that thing comes out. So, if I'm not going to your city in the next few months, chances are I'll be there early next year.
As always, all tour dates can be found on the SHOWS page.
Thanks for reading!
Owen
5/14/08
Hello friends,
Next week, I am starting a tour of the Western States with my buddies in Foot Foot. And, despite Foot Foot's threats of non-stop Harry Potter books on tape in the minivan, I anticipate a pretty good time. I haven't been to a lot of those places for a long while, and I just hope that the good peoeple of Denver haven't gotten all sour due to my neglect. Anyway, there are a mess of dates over on the shows page right now, and I'm expecting to have a few more dates for you in the coming days.
So, after some bummer pressing plant delays (that I can assure you were in no way the fault of the good people at OIB Records), I will finally have the U.S. pressing of the TOWN TOPIC 7" available on the Western States tour. Unlike the blue vinyl UK tour copies, the US tour copies will be on clear vinyl. Clear like those beautiful Pacific waters. As if blue wasn't oceany enough.
Special for the Western States tour, I will also have a brand new 7" called STSNC INSTRUMENTALS that is sort of the sequel to the TOWN TOPIC EP. TOWN TOPIC EP + STSNC INSTRUMENTALS = all of the music that was recorded specifically for the Laurel Nakadate film, STAY THE SAME NEVER CHANGE. STSNC INSTRUMENTALS collects all of the short instrumental tracks that were used throughout the film, plus a few that didn't make the final cut, including some bonus ringtones for some of the characters' cell phones. Ringtones on a 7". Does your phonograph have a Bluetooth hook-up? Here is the track listing:
1. Twinkle Echo (reverse) 0:36
2. Nashville Parthenon (instrumental) 1:40
3. STSNC 1:02
4. Twinkle Echo (redux) 0:54
5. I like Common 1:17
6. Possible Love Interest (ringtone) 0:32
7. Bad People (ringtone) 0:27
8. OMG (ringtone) 0:30
9. Probably Walkin Down The Street (ringtone) 0:35
10. Ice Cream Truck (instrumental) 1:21
STSNC INSTRUMENTALS is being released by People In A Position To Know, INC in Olympia, WA, who also released that CFTPA/Concern collaboration single back in January. STSNC INSTRUMENTALS will be limited to 300 copies, and is being pressed onto random surprise colored vinyl. I don't even know what the records will look like until they come back from the pressing plant, but I can tell you that the cover will look like this:
I drew that.
After this tour that's about to happen, I'll be taking most of the summer off to finally get this new album finished. It probably won't be out until after the new year, but I promise there will be some other interesting things coming out between now and then.
Oh and Europe it looks like I'll be seeing you in September.
2/29/08
The UK tour starts Wednesday and I'm pretty excited, dudes. Jenny Herbinson will be joining me for the tour, and we'll be making our UK debut as a DUO. What else. OIB Records in Brighton, England will be releasing a 7" EP especially for the UK tour. The EP will feature four previous unreleased tracks recorded for the Laurel Nakadate film STAY THE SAME NEVER CHANGE. You can watch the movie's trailer HERE, by the way.
Here is the tracklisting:
1. Ice Cream Truck
2. Town Topic (instrumental)
3. I Love Creedence (instrumental)
4. Green Cotton Sweater (version)
"Ice Cream Truck" is streaming now OVER HERE, where you can also see a sneak peak of Laurel Nakadate's cover photography.
The Town Topic EP is a VINYL ONLY RELEASE and won't be available in shops until after the tour. An extremely limited tour edition of the 7" will be pressed on light blue vinyl.
I will also have limited quantities of the Casiotone/Donkeys split 7", the David Horvitz picture disc 7", the Casiotone/Concern square 8 3/4" available on this tour. Also, Shea'la Finch of Tiny Showcase designed some super fancy and very limited tote bags especially for the tour so you'll have something to carry your new records home in. That is if you feel like buying some new records. No pressure.
OH! And a second London show was just added. Full tour dates HERE.
ALSO!!! I will be touring the right-hand portion of the United States in April with my friends from Australia, Clue To Kalo. A tour of the left-hand portion of the United States will follow in May and June with California's own Foot Foot. I should have copies of all of the new vinyl releases for sale on those tours, too.
HERE ARE YOUR TOUR DATES, AMERICA.
1/17/08
I am proud to announce two tours a long time in the making: a February FLORIDA ONLY tour with Dear Nora & an epic March UK/Ireland tour. The dates are up now on the SHOWS page. It looks like I'm probably going to do some kind of special limited edition 7" for the UK tour, but I haven't exactly recorded it yet. It is happening, though! Watch this space for updates.
In other news!!!
STAY THE SAME NEVER CHANGE, the first feature film by Laurel Nakadate, will premiere in Kansas City, MO on February 1. In case you missed the news, all of the music in this movie is by me, Owen Ashworth, the dude from Casiotone for the Painfully Alone. Laurel & I will be presenting the film and leading a gallery discussion at Grand Arts in Kansas City on February 2. You are invited! You can download the press release HERE.
p.s. If you live in Florida and you want to help advertise one of the upcoming shows (no pressure I'm not trying to make this a thing), you can download the FLORIDA ONLY tour poster RIGHT HERE & then go hang it up at the juice bar or something. Only if you feel like it.
12/26/07
An exclusive four-track home recording of "New Year's Kiss" is now available as a free MP3 download on the A/V page. Happy New Year!!!
12/17/07
In January 2008, People In A Position To Know Recordings, Inc. will release a Casiotone for the Painfully Alone and Concern collaborative Bruce Springsteen tribute single. This vinyl only release is a two song, square, one-sided 8 3/8" vinyl single in a full color 9" sleeve. 500 copies are being pressed on brown marble vinyl, and 500 copies are being pressed on tan/black marble vinyl.
Here is the record's tracklisting:
1. Born In The U.S.A.
2. Streets of Philadelphia
This release was previously advertised as being part of PIAPTK's Limited Edition Vinyl Subscription Series. That subscription series is I guess no longer happening, so you can probably just buy it the regular ways you buy records, or by ordering directly from PIAPTK.
Concern (i.e. my brother Gordon) and I will be embarking on a short Pacific Northwest tour to celebrate the release of our collaboration. Here are the tour dates:
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone & Concern
January 2008 Pacific Northwest Tour
1/09/08- Portland, OR- Artistery
1/10/08- Anacortes, WA- Department of Safety
1/11/08- Seattle, WA- Vera Project
1/12/08- Olympia, WA- Black Front Gallery
all shows are all ages.
Also in January, Aagoo Records will be releasing the Casiotone for the Painfully Alone picture disc 7" in an edition of 500. As previously reported, the tracklisting is as follows:
1. Old Panda Days {vocals by Nick Krgovich}
2. Lesley Gore on the TAMI Show (version) {vocals by Jenny Herbinson}
Both of these releases will be for sale at the merch table on the January tour. In the meantime, you can preview tracks from both of these releases right now at www.myspace.com/cftpa.
Thanks for reading!!!
Owen
11/27/07
ATTENTION NEW ZEALAND
I recently remixed a track for my friend Dudley Benson in Auckland, NZ. The remix is for a song called "I Don't Mind" and it's only available on a limited edition 12" on Dudley's own Golden Retriever label. There were only 300 copies pressed, so if you want one, you'd better be quick about it. New Zealand and international orders can be negotiated at the following website:
www.dudleybenson.com
11/15/07
10 YR ANNIVERSARY SHOW
On December 5, I will return to San Francisco for a special concert to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the very first Casiotone for the Painfully Alone live performance. It's going to be an all ages show at The Bottom of the Hill with The Papercuts & DJ Matt Bonar. This show will also be the record release party for a new Casiotone for the Painfully Alone picture disc 7" from Aagoo Records. This vinyl only release will feature two exclusive tracks with guest vocals by two of my favorite singers and photography by David Horvitz.. Here is the track listing:
1. "Old Panda Days" is sung by Nick Krgovich
2. "Lesley Gore on the TAMI Show (version)" is sung by Jenny Herbinson
This release won't be available in shops or through mail order until early 2008, and I will only have a limited number available at the show. Only one copy per customer will be sold, so come down early and pick up your copy!
EXCLUSIVE CHRISTMAS JAM ON TOYS FOR TOTS BENEFIT COMPILATION
Hard To Find A Friend (the music blog) asked me to record a Christmas song for a download-only benefit compilation album called PEACE ON EARTH. Anyone who knows me knows that I love toys AND tots, so I said "Hell yes." I recorded an instrumental version of one of my favorite holiday tunes, "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and now you can buy it along with 17 other mega-jams right over here at THIS WEBSITE for only $7.
100% of proceeds go to benefit Toys for Tots. It's a totally good cause and pretty worth it I think! Here is the tracklisting:
1. Prayers & Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers - Shepherd's Song
2. Quiet Company - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
3. Great Lake Swimmers - Gonna Make it Through This Year
4. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin / Sweetwater Abilene - The Wheels Are Off
5. Chris Walla - Coventry Carol
6. David Karsten Daniels - In The Bleak Midwinter
7. Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
8. The Winston Jazz Routine - Through the Snow
9. Via Audio - My Boo
10. The Long Winters - Sometimes You Have to Work on Christmas (Sometimes)
11. TW Walsh - Drop the Bomb
12. Ohtis - American Christians
13. Aaron Robinson - End of the Year
14. The Cotton Jones Basket Ride (Michael Nau of Page France) - White Christmas
15. American Music Club - Please Please
16. Johnny Bertram - Merry Christmas (You Won't Get What You Want)
17. Rosie Thomas - Christmas Time is Here
18. Sleeptalker - This is Christmas
"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" is streaming at www.myspace.com/cftpa right now. Remember this song is ONLY AVAILABLE on the benefit compilation so you should go buy it right now! Downloading it illegally will result in more coal in your stocking than you could ever imagine.
GET IT HERE
11/01/07
The Donkeys and I recorded another round of songs for Daytrotter on our last summer tour. The Casiotone vs. The Donkeys session is up now, and The Donkeys vs. The Donkeys session should be up later in the week.
DOWNLOAD IT HERE!!!
Meanwhile, I am on tour in the Northeast USA with my good friends To Bad Catholics from Vancouver, BC. Come see a show! The dates are here.
8/23/07
Folks,
I will be suporting some of David Bazan's Midwest tour dates in September. I'm looking forward to driving around in a rental car and eating at Cracker Barrel again. And not to be prejudiced, but I'm really excited about visiting Lubbock, Texas, hometown of Buddy Holly. I saw the Buddy Holly musical when I was a kid and it laid a pretty heavy trip on me.
After Lubbock, I will be stopping in Kansas to work on some music for my friend Laurel Nakadate's new movie, and then on my way home I will be playing at the Pygmalion Festival in Urbana-Champaign, IL. I will be playing solo for all of these shows, by the way. No new records to promote, but I will have new t-shirts for sale. That's something, right?
Oh, also, I'm making my first ever trip to Portugal in October. I'll be playing in Fundão at the IMAGO Film Festival as part of some kind of Tomlab night, and then another show in (probably) beautiful Alcobaça. All of those dates are over on the shows page.
Last things! I taped an episode of XLR8R TV when I was in San Francisco last. There is some karaoke involved.
The tour split 7" with The Donkeys is now available through mail order from Antenna Farm Records.
Two more vinyl singles are still in the works, but they are taking FOREEEEVVVVVEEEERRRRRRR.
5/15/07
I forgot to tell you about the full band U.S. summer tour with The Donkeys!!! It's going to be epic. And by epic I mean really long. I have some of the confirmed dates up on the shows page now and there are lots more on the way. The Donkeys and I will be playing some brand new songs in glorious full band formation for this tour, and the plan is to head right to the studio at the end of the tour to record for the next Casiotone album. There will be guitar solos. There will be tambourines. There will be really long sound checks!
CLICK HERE FOR TOUR DATES!!!
Antenna Farm Records is going to release a limited edition split 7" special for the tour. The record will feature two brand new and exclusive songs per band and will come wrapped in a real fancy full color photo sleeve which may or may not embarrass the shit out of some old and dear friends of mine.
Speaking of embarrassment, I put an MP3 of the first ever Casiotone for the Painfully Alone song, "Seattle Wash," up on the A/V page. This version was recorded just about ten years ago, and was released as the b-side of my first ever 7" on Train Bridge Recordings. The MP3 was ripped directly off the original test pressing, as the record is long out of print, the master tapes are lost, and that test pressing is the only copy of the recording in my possession. Re-recorded (and in my opinion superior) versions of the original three songs can now be found on the Answering Machine Music reissue, but here's your chance to hear one of the original recordings in all of its fumbling, mouth-breathing glory. Just keep reminding yourself that the sad dude on the mic turned out pretty alright afterall.
4/23/07
I'm home from tour and I turned 30. My back is killing me. Thanks to everyone to came to the shows. I was glad to have the chance to share bills with old friends Xiu Xiu and new friends Shearwater. Special thanks to Caralee and Howard for their surprise guest spots during some of the Casiotone sets. Hopefully I'll have some tour photos by Emma Roach up on the site soon.
There are lots of new dates up on the shows page, and I'll be scrambling to finish up tracks for some new releases before those May Canadian dates. Here's what's coming up:
A track for the David Shrigley Worried Noodles Compilation CD
A split 7" tour support EP w/ The Donkeys
That David Horvitz picture disc 7" finally
Organ Resonance Frequency/Oregon Residence Frequency (two different collaborations with Gordon Wilson Ashworth of Oscillating Innards) split 7" of Bruce Springsteen covers
Maybe a new album eventually
3/15/07
Hey folks,
I'm going to be leaving for tour in a couple of days here. This is the first solo tour I've done in a while and I'm pretty excited about it. I have some new songs to try out and some new things to sell at the merch table. I'm bringing copies of the recent limited edition 7"s (including the very last of the Graceland singles and Fox Pause splits), and I'll have a mess of handsome new t-shirts as well. In fact, Heidi Anderson, who painted the Etiquette and Twinkle Echo covers, is designing and hand-making 40 limited edition lady-sized t-shirts just for this tour. Pretty nice!
Oh, and for a lot of these shows, I will be opening for Xiu Xiu and Shearwater, which will be pretty great. Xiu Xiu were kind enough to bring me along on my first ever U.S. national tour, and I'm very glad to be playing shows with them again for this, my 6th U.S. national tour. I really hope you can make it to one of the shows. I've got em all listed over HERE.
xo
Owen
NEW RELEASES!!!
The Foot Foot / Casiotone for the Painfully Alone split 7" is now available for pre-order from Oedipus Records. The Casiotone song is called "It's A Crime" & it was recorded in San Diego with Alex deLanda & Sam Sprague last year. The Foot Foot song is called "Hysterical" and it is rock n' roll. Carrie Dietz from Foot Foot did the lovely artwork you see above. This release is limited to 500 copies. 150 of those 500 copies are pressed on white vinyl, & won't be available in shops!
ORDER HERE
Tomlab has just released a newly mastered version of "Bobby Malone Moves Home" as the second single from Etiquette. The single is available on CD EP & 7" vinyl. Each format has its own exclusive b-sides of new, full band arrangements of CFTPA favorites, recorded during a 2006 US Tour with San Diego's The Donkeys playing as the backing band. Both formats feature cover art by The Donkeys' Anthony Lukens.
CD EP tracklisting:
1. Bobby Malone Moves Home
2. Jeane, If You're Ever In Portland (Live)
3. Tonight Was A Disaster (Live)
4. It Wasn't The Same Somehow (Live)
5. Bobby Malone Moves Home (Live)
7" tracklisting:
1. Bobby Malone Moves Home
2. Jeane, If You're Ever In Portland (Daytrotter Version)
The Graceland single is out of print!!!!
VS. CHILDREN is out today!!! There is a pretty nice review HERE.
Here are some places where you can buy a copy:
Australia & New Zealand: INERTIA-MUSIC
Austria: SUBSTANCE
Germany: A-MUSIK
Japan: ARTUNION
Scandinavia: DOT
UK: BOOMKAT
USA & Canada: SECRETLY CANADIAN
Other places: TOMLAB
You can also buy a download from the places you would probably expect.
The European tour starts on Saturday!!! All of our dates our on the SHOWS page. I won't be able to update this website while I'm gone, but you can always check the PUSCHEN website for any changes.
For this tour, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone will be:
Owen Ashworth: vocals, electronics & organ
Gordon Ashworth: piano, baritone guitar & lap steel
Nick Tamburro: drums
Tyson Thurston: baritone guitar & piano
We are a pretty good band & we're really excited for this tour!
Gordon will also be supporting most shows with his solo project CONCERN. CONCERN have a great & brand new album of their own called TRUTH & DISTANCE (Digitalis Undustries/Iatrogenesis). You can buy everybody's new album on the merch table, along with some brand new t-shirts & other stuff. Come say hello!
See you soon!
1/22/09
Happy late ass new year everybody!
I wanted to tell you that the band called Papercuts have recorded a lovely cover of the Casiotone for the Painfully Alone song "Baby It's You." I am super flattered because I really, really like that band. Thank you Papercuts. You can download a free MP3 HERE.
In March I will be playing SXSW for the first time after ten years of stern avoidance. The showcases are still being confirmed, but keep an eye on the SHOWS page for updates. It might be rad?
Before any of that, though, I will be playing two shows in February: one in Chicago & one in New York. You can learn about them on that good old SHOWS page. Fingers crossed, I will be debuting some of the songs from VS. CHILDREN. AAAAHHHH!!!!
Speaking of which, I just heard that VS. CHILDREN will finally and officially be released during the first week of April. For those of you who have asked about it, here is Heidi Andersons's spectacular cover art:
...& here is the the tracklisting:
1. Casiotone for the Painfully Alone vs. Children
2. Tom Justice, The Choir Boy Robber, Apprehended at Ace Hardware in Libertyville, IL
3. Optimist vs. The Silent Alarm (When The Saints Go Marching In)
4. Natural Light
5. Traveling Salesman's Young Wife Home Alone on Christmas in Montpelier, VT
6. Man O' War
7. Northfield, MN
8. Killers
9. Harsh The Herald Angels Sing
10. You Were Alone
11. White Jetta
ADVANCE BASE BATTERY LIFE, the singles & rarities compilation, will be released on March 10, I believe. Here is THAT cover art:
...& here is THAT tracklisting:
1. Old Panda Days (w/ Nick Krgovich)
2. Lesley Gore on the T.A.M.I. Show (version)
3. White Corolla
4. White on White
5. Holly Hobby
6. Lonesome New Mexican Nights
7. The Only Way To Cry
8. It's A Crime
9. Missoula
10. Hot Boyz (w/ Dear Nora)
11. Born in the U.S.A. (w/ Concern)
12. Streets of Philadelphia (w/ Concern)
13. Graceland
14. Sunday St
15. Voice of the Hospital
There will be a big Europe/UK tour in April & May in support of both of these releases. In the spirit of duality, I will be performing both a solo electronic set & a full band set at all shows. Concern will support all dates, along with some other extra special guests along the way. Hopefully I'll have those dates for you soon, so keep an eye on that fabulous, fabulous SHOWS page.
Thanks to everyone who said hello & supported STAY THE SAME NEVER CHANGE at the Sundance Film Festival! What's up to my man Ben. I thought that Lil Wayne documentary was pretty good.
12/09/08
I forgot to tell you that I did a remix for Headlights' new remix CD, REMIXES, & it comes out TODAY. REMIXES also features remixes of Headlights songs by people like The Album Leaf, Son Lux, The Buddy System, Cale Parks, & T.J Lipple of Aloha. REMIXES!!! The thing that I did is for a song called "So Much For The Afternoon," & I sing on it. Actually, it kind of just sounds like I hijacked Headlights & made them be my backing band for a couple of minutes. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, & it's sort of the closest thing to a new Casiotone for the Painfully Alone song for the time being.
Anyway, you can buy a CD HERE, or, if you'd rather download it, it's also available from a lot of those places that want to sell you downloads.
12/06/08
1. STAY THE SAME NEVER CHANGE (the Laurel Nakadate movie that I did all of that music for & helped edit) will be playing at the Sundance Festival in January. I will be out there with Laurel & some of the other cast & crew to for some of the screenings. Robert Redford let's hang out.
2. Julia Pott's video for White Corolla (which will be on ADVANCE BASE BATTERY LIFE but is available now on a split 7" w/ The Donkeys) debuted on 120 Minutes on MTV2 in England on November 22. I have no idea if they will ever play it again, but there you go.
3. The new album has been delayed a bit, but I swear it's almost done, & the plan is to release it in the spring along with a singles & rarities compilation CD/LP. The new album will be called VS. CHILDREN & the compilation album will be called ADVANCE BASE BATTERY LIFE. They were originally supposed to be released months apart slash already, but weirdness has delayed just about everything that could possibly be delayed. I know these things take forever & I'm sorry. Thank you for your patience, people. There will be lots more touring once those things come out, but for the next few months, I'll be taking it easy & working on some new recordings, soup recipes, etc. Maybe I should put a recipes page on the website?
4. There are a bunch of new shirts and some tour posters for sale over in the SHOP.
1, 2, 3, 4. That's all the news I have right now, but I'll let you know the second anything else exciting happens.
Thank you to everyone who came to the fall shows. See you in the spring!
Owen
10/8/08
Hey folks,
So, it turns out there are a bunch of problems with the online Town Topic EP track listing. I'm praying it gets fixed soon, but for the time being, every time you download a copy or put a CD copy into your computer, the track listing will be screwy. Once again, this is how the correct track listing should read:
1. Ice Cream Truck
2. Town Topic (instrumental)
3. I Love Creedence (instrumental)
4. Lesley Gore on the TAMI Show (instrumental)
5. Twinkle Echo (reverse)
6. Nashville Parthenon (instrumental)
7. STSNC
8. Twinkle Echo (redux)
9. I Like Common
10. Possible Love Interest (ringtone)
11. Bad People (ringtone)
12. OMG (ringtone)
13. Probably Walkin Down The Street (ringtone)
14. Ice Cream Truck (instrumental)
15. Green Cotton Sweater (version)
In other exciting news, I'm about to leave on the first of three short Fall U.S. tours. The dates for the first two are up on the shows page now, and the dates for the third will be up later this month.
If you are coming to one of the upcoming shows & there is a particular Casiotone song you'd really like to hear, you can email me at casiotonetechsupport@gmail.com with the name of the song & the city where you're planning on seeing a show. This will give me a chance to practice the requested song couple of times first so I don't forget the words or anything. Please title your email with the name of the city followed by "request" (e.g. "Des Moines Request").
Maybe see you soon??
Owen
P.S. The first person in Des Moines who actually emails me a song request will get a free copy of the Town Topic EP at the show.
9/4/08
On September 23, Tomlab will release the CD and download edition of the Town Topic EP. This is what the CD looks like, if you forget to turn off the flash:
The download doesn't look like anything because it physically does not exist. It is nothing.
Here is the track listing:
1. Ice Cream Truck
2. Town Topic (instrumental)
3. I Love Creedence (instrumental)
4. Lesley Gore on the TAMI Show (instrumental)
5. Twinkle Echo (reverse)
6. Nashville Parthenon (instrumental)
7. STSNC
8. Twinkle Echo (redux)
9. I Like Common
10. Possible Love Interest (ringtone)
11. Bad People (ringtone)
12. OMG (ringtone)
13. Probably Walkin Down The Street (ringtone)
14. Ice Cream Truck (instrumental)
15. Green Cotton Sweater (version)
Here is the promo text, just in case you are incredibly curious about this release:
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone
TOWN TOPIC EP
The TOWN TOPIC EP is the soundtrack to video artist and photographer Laurel Nakadate's debut feature film, STAY THE SAME NEVER CHANGE. Laurel commissioned CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE's Owen Ashworth to provide all of the music for STAY THE SAME NEVER CHANGE, right down to the character's ring tones. Laurel's original intention was to use previously released CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE songs for the film's soundtrack, but Owen opted instead to re-construct the pre-existing material and blend it with a number of new pieces to create a cohesive score specifically for the project. Built from the sounds of electric pianos, organs, Casio keyboards, a primitive monophonic sequencer/drum machine, and a shit ton of spring reverb, the music on the TOWN TOPIC EP parallels the stories of trouble-making Kansas City teenagers as they detonate explosives, eat at diners, watch fireworks, get kidnapped, and make a couple of phone calls over one sweltering Midwestern summer.
The TOWN TOPIC EP consists of thirteen short instrumental pieces, book-ended by the two vocal tracks that were recorded specifically for the film: "Ice Cream Truck," which, over a simulated July soundscape of Mr. Softee jingles, cicadas and trunk-rattling bass from passing cars, tells the story of criminal-minded kids who go joy-riding in a stolen ice cream truck and make other poorly-informed decisions along the way, and "Green Cotton Sweater (version)," which trumps the song's 2001 appearance on the POCKET SYMPHONIES FOR LONESOME SUBWAY CARS LP with blown-out drum machine rhythms, clattering pianos, and loads of vintage amp abuse. Other stand-out tracks include "Town Topic (instrumental)," a jukebox-ready country shuffle that could easily be mistaken for the backing track of a long-lost Patsy Cline hit, and "Nashville Parthenon (instrumental)," which re-imagines the original electro arrangement as a lovely and minimal electric piano lullaby.
The TOWN TOPIC EP collects tracks from two limited, vinyl-only EPs (the TOWN TOPIC 7", released by OIB Records in Brighton, England, and STSNC INSTRUMENTALS 7", released by People In A Position To Know Recordings, Inc. in Olympia, WA), plus one bonus track, the previously unreleased "Lesley Gore on the TAMI Show (instrumental)." The cover photograph, which features two of the actors from STAY THE SAME NEVER CHANGE, was taken by Laurel Nakadate.
END OF PROMO TEXT
Seriously who writes this stuff?
Like I said before, I will be going to Europe for a tour to celebrate the release of this thing. Because I am a genius, the CD won't actually be released until the very last day of the tour. Incredible planning, bonehead.
There will be a bunch of Midwest, East Coast, and mildly-Southern U.S. tour dates following in October & November. Those dates will be announced on the SHOWS page as soon as the information is available.
Are you guys excited about fall or what????
Owen
7/31/08
What's up, fellas? Tomorrow I am going to Grand Rapids to play a make-up show for the bummer cancellation back in April. I'm really happy to be sharing this show with The Spectacles, who are good friends from Chicago, and Paleo, whom I have never met but whose music I have enjoyed listening to in my home. The show is also going to be a fundraiser for a new soundsystem for the DAAC. The DAAC has faced some legal troubles in the recent past, and its staff of purehearted volunteers have worked really hard to get the DAAC up to code and totally leigitimate, and that hasn't left much time, energy, or money for things like new mics, cables, and other equipment necessary to put on really great all ages shows. So, to support the cause, none of the bands are taking any money for this show. Come help out the DAAC!
I am also really excited to announce my September European tour. I'm going to a bunch of places I've never been before, including Russia, Finland, and Norway. I'm doing this tour totally solo, which means lots of trains, planes, and gawking at strangers who speak different languages than me. What should I see? What should I eat? What should I avoid touching? If anyone has any Russia or Scaninavian travel advice, I could sure use the help. My email address is casiotonetechsupport@gmail.com.
The September tour will mark the release of the CD edition of the Town Topic EP, which will collect newly mastered tracks from my two most recent 7" releases: The Town Topic EP on OIB Records, and the STSNC INSTRUMENTALS EP on PIAPTK Records. As of now, both 7"s are still available from their respective labels as well as THIS WEBSITE. Tomlab will just be handling the CD version. I think the official release date is September 23. There will also be digital downloads available from wherever you've been getting your CFTPA digital downloads already. Here's the poster for the new release, which will also be serving as my tour poster for all fall dates:
The photo is a still from the Laurel Nakadate film, STAY THE SAME NEVER CHANGE, for which all of the music on the Town Topic EP was recorded. I think Laurel will be releasing a fancy DVD edition pretty soon.
In October and November, I will be playing a whole mess of Midwest and East Coast US tour dates in support of the Town Topic EP. A new album will follow in early 2009, and I'll be touring like a crazy person after that thing comes out. So, if I'm not going to your city in the next few months, chances are I'll be there early next year.
As always, all tour dates can be found on the SHOWS page.
Thanks for reading!
Owen
5/14/08
Hello friends,
Next week, I am starting a tour of the Western States with my buddies in Foot Foot. And, despite Foot Foot's threats of non-stop Harry Potter books on tape in the minivan, I anticipate a pretty good time. I haven't been to a lot of those places for a long while, and I just hope that the good peoeple of Denver haven't gotten all sour due to my neglect. Anyway, there are a mess of dates over on the shows page right now, and I'm expecting to have a few more dates for you in the coming days.
So, after some bummer pressing plant delays (that I can assure you were in no way the fault of the good people at OIB Records), I will finally have the U.S. pressing of the TOWN TOPIC 7" available on the Western States tour. Unlike the blue vinyl UK tour copies, the US tour copies will be on clear vinyl. Clear like those beautiful Pacific waters. As if blue wasn't oceany enough.
Special for the Western States tour, I will also have a brand new 7" called STSNC INSTRUMENTALS that is sort of the sequel to the TOWN TOPIC EP. TOWN TOPIC EP + STSNC INSTRUMENTALS = all of the music that was recorded specifically for the Laurel Nakadate film, STAY THE SAME NEVER CHANGE. STSNC INSTRUMENTALS collects all of the short instrumental tracks that were used throughout the film, plus a few that didn't make the final cut, including some bonus ringtones for some of the characters' cell phones. Ringtones on a 7". Does your phonograph have a Bluetooth hook-up? Here is the track listing:
1. Twinkle Echo (reverse) 0:36
2. Nashville Parthenon (instrumental) 1:40
3. STSNC 1:02
4. Twinkle Echo (redux) 0:54
5. I like Common 1:17
6. Possible Love Interest (ringtone) 0:32
7. Bad People (ringtone) 0:27
8. OMG (ringtone) 0:30
9. Probably Walkin Down The Street (ringtone) 0:35
10. Ice Cream Truck (instrumental) 1:21
STSNC INSTRUMENTALS is being released by People In A Position To Know, INC in Olympia, WA, who also released that CFTPA/Concern collaboration single back in January. STSNC INSTRUMENTALS will be limited to 300 copies, and is being pressed onto random surprise colored vinyl. I don't even know what the records will look like until they come back from the pressing plant, but I can tell you that the cover will look like this:
I drew that.
After this tour that's about to happen, I'll be taking most of the summer off to finally get this new album finished. It probably won't be out until after the new year, but I promise there will be some other interesting things coming out between now and then.
Oh and Europe it looks like I'll be seeing you in September.
2/29/08
The UK tour starts Wednesday and I'm pretty excited, dudes. Jenny Herbinson will be joining me for the tour, and we'll be making our UK debut as a DUO. What else. OIB Records in Brighton, England will be releasing a 7" EP especially for the UK tour. The EP will feature four previous unreleased tracks recorded for the Laurel Nakadate film STAY THE SAME NEVER CHANGE. You can watch the movie's trailer HERE, by the way.
Here is the tracklisting:
1. Ice Cream Truck
2. Town Topic (instrumental)
3. I Love Creedence (instrumental)
4. Green Cotton Sweater (version)
"Ice Cream Truck" is streaming now OVER HERE, where you can also see a sneak peak of Laurel Nakadate's cover photography.
The Town Topic EP is a VINYL ONLY RELEASE and won't be available in shops until after the tour. An extremely limited tour edition of the 7" will be pressed on light blue vinyl.
I will also have limited quantities of the Casiotone/Donkeys split 7", the David Horvitz picture disc 7", the Casiotone/Concern square 8 3/4" available on this tour. Also, Shea'la Finch of Tiny Showcase designed some super fancy and very limited tote bags especially for the tour so you'll have something to carry your new records home in. That is if you feel like buying some new records. No pressure.
OH! And a second London show was just added. Full tour dates HERE.
ALSO!!! I will be touring the right-hand portion of the United States in April with my friends from Australia, Clue To Kalo. A tour of the left-hand portion of the United States will follow in May and June with California's own Foot Foot. I should have copies of all of the new vinyl releases for sale on those tours, too.
HERE ARE YOUR TOUR DATES, AMERICA.
1/17/08
I am proud to announce two tours a long time in the making: a February FLORIDA ONLY tour with Dear Nora & an epic March UK/Ireland tour. The dates are up now on the SHOWS page. It looks like I'm probably going to do some kind of special limited edition 7" for the UK tour, but I haven't exactly recorded it yet. It is happening, though! Watch this space for updates.
In other news!!!
STAY THE SAME NEVER CHANGE, the first feature film by Laurel Nakadate, will premiere in Kansas City, MO on February 1. In case you missed the news, all of the music in this movie is by me, Owen Ashworth, the dude from Casiotone for the Painfully Alone. Laurel & I will be presenting the film and leading a gallery discussion at Grand Arts in Kansas City on February 2. You are invited! You can download the press release HERE.
p.s. If you live in Florida and you want to help advertise one of the upcoming shows (no pressure I'm not trying to make this a thing), you can download the FLORIDA ONLY tour poster RIGHT HERE & then go hang it up at the juice bar or something. Only if you feel like it.
12/26/07
An exclusive four-track home recording of "New Year's Kiss" is now available as a free MP3 download on the A/V page. Happy New Year!!!
12/17/07
In January 2008, People In A Position To Know Recordings, Inc. will release a Casiotone for the Painfully Alone and Concern collaborative Bruce Springsteen tribute single. This vinyl only release is a two song, square, one-sided 8 3/8" vinyl single in a full color 9" sleeve. 500 copies are being pressed on brown marble vinyl, and 500 copies are being pressed on tan/black marble vinyl.
Here is the record's tracklisting:
1. Born In The U.S.A.
2. Streets of Philadelphia
This release was previously advertised as being part of PIAPTK's Limited Edition Vinyl Subscription Series. That subscription series is I guess no longer happening, so you can probably just buy it the regular ways you buy records, or by ordering directly from PIAPTK.
Concern (i.e. my brother Gordon) and I will be embarking on a short Pacific Northwest tour to celebrate the release of our collaboration. Here are the tour dates:
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone & Concern
January 2008 Pacific Northwest Tour
1/09/08- Portland, OR- Artistery
1/10/08- Anacortes, WA- Department of Safety
1/11/08- Seattle, WA- Vera Project
1/12/08- Olympia, WA- Black Front Gallery
all shows are all ages.
Also in January, Aagoo Records will be releasing the Casiotone for the Painfully Alone picture disc 7" in an edition of 500. As previously reported, the tracklisting is as follows:
1. Old Panda Days {vocals by Nick Krgovich}
2. Lesley Gore on the TAMI Show (version) {vocals by Jenny Herbinson}
Both of these releases will be for sale at the merch table on the January tour. In the meantime, you can preview tracks from both of these releases right now at www.myspace.com/cftpa.
Thanks for reading!!!
Owen
11/27/07
ATTENTION NEW ZEALAND
I recently remixed a track for my friend Dudley Benson in Auckland, NZ. The remix is for a song called "I Don't Mind" and it's only available on a limited edition 12" on Dudley's own Golden Retriever label. There were only 300 copies pressed, so if you want one, you'd better be quick about it. New Zealand and international orders can be negotiated at the following website:
www.dudleybenson.com
11/15/07
10 YR ANNIVERSARY SHOW
On December 5, I will return to San Francisco for a special concert to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the very first Casiotone for the Painfully Alone live performance. It's going to be an all ages show at The Bottom of the Hill with The Papercuts & DJ Matt Bonar. This show will also be the record release party for a new Casiotone for the Painfully Alone picture disc 7" from Aagoo Records. This vinyl only release will feature two exclusive tracks with guest vocals by two of my favorite singers and photography by David Horvitz.. Here is the track listing:
1. "Old Panda Days" is sung by Nick Krgovich
2. "Lesley Gore on the TAMI Show (version)" is sung by Jenny Herbinson
This release won't be available in shops or through mail order until early 2008, and I will only have a limited number available at the show. Only one copy per customer will be sold, so come down early and pick up your copy!
EXCLUSIVE CHRISTMAS JAM ON TOYS FOR TOTS BENEFIT COMPILATION
Hard To Find A Friend (the music blog) asked me to record a Christmas song for a download-only benefit compilation album called PEACE ON EARTH. Anyone who knows me knows that I love toys AND tots, so I said "Hell yes." I recorded an instrumental version of one of my favorite holiday tunes, "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and now you can buy it along with 17 other mega-jams right over here at THIS WEBSITE for only $7.
100% of proceeds go to benefit Toys for Tots. It's a totally good cause and pretty worth it I think! Here is the tracklisting:
1. Prayers & Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers - Shepherd's Song
2. Quiet Company - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
3. Great Lake Swimmers - Gonna Make it Through This Year
4. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin / Sweetwater Abilene - The Wheels Are Off
5. Chris Walla - Coventry Carol
6. David Karsten Daniels - In The Bleak Midwinter
7. Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
8. The Winston Jazz Routine - Through the Snow
9. Via Audio - My Boo
10. The Long Winters - Sometimes You Have to Work on Christmas (Sometimes)
11. TW Walsh - Drop the Bomb
12. Ohtis - American Christians
13. Aaron Robinson - End of the Year
14. The Cotton Jones Basket Ride (Michael Nau of Page France) - White Christmas
15. American Music Club - Please Please
16. Johnny Bertram - Merry Christmas (You Won't Get What You Want)
17. Rosie Thomas - Christmas Time is Here
18. Sleeptalker - This is Christmas
"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" is streaming at www.myspace.com/cftpa right now. Remember this song is ONLY AVAILABLE on the benefit compilation so you should go buy it right now! Downloading it illegally will result in more coal in your stocking than you could ever imagine.
GET IT HERE
11/01/07
The Donkeys and I recorded another round of songs for Daytrotter on our last summer tour. The Casiotone vs. The Donkeys session is up now, and The Donkeys vs. The Donkeys session should be up later in the week.
DOWNLOAD IT HERE!!!
Meanwhile, I am on tour in the Northeast USA with my good friends To Bad Catholics from Vancouver, BC. Come see a show! The dates are here.
8/23/07
Folks,
I will be suporting some of David Bazan's Midwest tour dates in September. I'm looking forward to driving around in a rental car and eating at Cracker Barrel again. And not to be prejudiced, but I'm really excited about visiting Lubbock, Texas, hometown of Buddy Holly. I saw the Buddy Holly musical when I was a kid and it laid a pretty heavy trip on me.
After Lubbock, I will be stopping in Kansas to work on some music for my friend Laurel Nakadate's new movie, and then on my way home I will be playing at the Pygmalion Festival in Urbana-Champaign, IL. I will be playing solo for all of these shows, by the way. No new records to promote, but I will have new t-shirts for sale. That's something, right?
Oh, also, I'm making my first ever trip to Portugal in October. I'll be playing in Fundão at the IMAGO Film Festival as part of some kind of Tomlab night, and then another show in (probably) beautiful Alcobaça. All of those dates are over on the shows page.
Last things! I taped an episode of XLR8R TV when I was in San Francisco last. There is some karaoke involved.
The tour split 7" with The Donkeys is now available through mail order from Antenna Farm Records.
Two more vinyl singles are still in the works, but they are taking FOREEEEVVVVVEEEERRRRRRR.
5/15/07
I forgot to tell you about the full band U.S. summer tour with The Donkeys!!! It's going to be epic. And by epic I mean really long. I have some of the confirmed dates up on the shows page now and there are lots more on the way. The Donkeys and I will be playing some brand new songs in glorious full band formation for this tour, and the plan is to head right to the studio at the end of the tour to record for the next Casiotone album. There will be guitar solos. There will be tambourines. There will be really long sound checks!
CLICK HERE FOR TOUR DATES!!!
Antenna Farm Records is going to release a limited edition split 7" special for the tour. The record will feature two brand new and exclusive songs per band and will come wrapped in a real fancy full color photo sleeve which may or may not embarrass the shit out of some old and dear friends of mine.
Speaking of embarrassment, I put an MP3 of the first ever Casiotone for the Painfully Alone song, "Seattle Wash," up on the A/V page. This version was recorded just about ten years ago, and was released as the b-side of my first ever 7" on Train Bridge Recordings. The MP3 was ripped directly off the original test pressing, as the record is long out of print, the master tapes are lost, and that test pressing is the only copy of the recording in my possession. Re-recorded (and in my opinion superior) versions of the original three songs can now be found on the Answering Machine Music reissue, but here's your chance to hear one of the original recordings in all of its fumbling, mouth-breathing glory. Just keep reminding yourself that the sad dude on the mic turned out pretty alright afterall.
4/23/07
I'm home from tour and I turned 30. My back is killing me. Thanks to everyone to came to the shows. I was glad to have the chance to share bills with old friends Xiu Xiu and new friends Shearwater. Special thanks to Caralee and Howard for their surprise guest spots during some of the Casiotone sets. Hopefully I'll have some tour photos by Emma Roach up on the site soon.
There are lots of new dates up on the shows page, and I'll be scrambling to finish up tracks for some new releases before those May Canadian dates. Here's what's coming up:
A track for the David Shrigley Worried Noodles Compilation CD
A split 7" tour support EP w/ The Donkeys
That David Horvitz picture disc 7" finally
Organ Resonance Frequency/Oregon Residence Frequency (two different collaborations with Gordon Wilson Ashworth of Oscillating Innards) split 7" of Bruce Springsteen covers
Maybe a new album eventually
3/15/07
Hey folks,
I'm going to be leaving for tour in a couple of days here. This is the first solo tour I've done in a while and I'm pretty excited about it. I have some new songs to try out and some new things to sell at the merch table. I'm bringing copies of the recent limited edition 7"s (including the very last of the Graceland singles and Fox Pause splits), and I'll have a mess of handsome new t-shirts as well. In fact, Heidi Anderson, who painted the Etiquette and Twinkle Echo covers, is designing and hand-making 40 limited edition lady-sized t-shirts just for this tour. Pretty nice!
Oh, and for a lot of these shows, I will be opening for Xiu Xiu and Shearwater, which will be pretty great. Xiu Xiu were kind enough to bring me along on my first ever U.S. national tour, and I'm very glad to be playing shows with them again for this, my 6th U.S. national tour. I really hope you can make it to one of the shows. I've got em all listed over HERE.
xo
Owen
NEW RELEASES!!!
The Foot Foot / Casiotone for the Painfully Alone split 7" is now available for pre-order from Oedipus Records. The Casiotone song is called "It's A Crime" & it was recorded in San Diego with Alex deLanda & Sam Sprague last year. The Foot Foot song is called "Hysterical" and it is rock n' roll. Carrie Dietz from Foot Foot did the lovely artwork you see above. This release is limited to 500 copies. 150 of those 500 copies are pressed on white vinyl, & won't be available in shops!
ORDER HERE
Tomlab has just released a newly mastered version of "Bobby Malone Moves Home" as the second single from Etiquette. The single is available on CD EP & 7" vinyl. Each format has its own exclusive b-sides of new, full band arrangements of CFTPA favorites, recorded during a 2006 US Tour with San Diego's The Donkeys playing as the backing band. Both formats feature cover art by The Donkeys' Anthony Lukens.
CD EP tracklisting:
1. Bobby Malone Moves Home
2. Jeane, If You're Ever In Portland (Live)
3. Tonight Was A Disaster (Live)
4. It Wasn't The Same Somehow (Live)
5. Bobby Malone Moves Home (Live)
7" tracklisting:
1. Bobby Malone Moves Home
2. Jeane, If You're Ever In Portland (Daytrotter Version)
The Graceland single is out of print!!!!
More singles are on the way!!!
Finally, Rococo Records will be releasing a Casiotone for the Painfully Alone/Oscillating Innards collaborative single sometime around the end of the year or early next year. I will be posting more information on this one in the coming weeks.